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When to Plant Mizuna in Fayette County, IN

Fayette County, Indiana Zone 6a May

Your May planting checklist for Fayette County, Indiana

A quick May briefing for Fayette County, Indiana gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 25
Avg. first frost October 17
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: mizuna

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. Collect mizuna at their peak

    Morning harvests are best — cooler temperatures mean crisper produce and longer fridge life.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • First harvests: mizuna

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Mizuna is a mild-flavored Japanese mustard green with feathery, deeply serrated leaves. It is fast-growing and makes an excellent addition to salads and stir-fries.

Fayette County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 175 days.

At an elevation of 612 feet, Fayette County receives approximately 34.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Mizuna during the growing season.

Fayette County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
175 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
175 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Fayette County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jun 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (112 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jun 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (108 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Jul 11

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Fayette County

How your county's soil matches Mizuna's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1–6.9) is within Mizuna's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Fayette County is excellent for Mizuna — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.6%) — Mizuna will thrive.

How to Plant Mizuna

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Mizuna

7
successive plantings in your 175-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 08.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 272 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Mizuna

Mizuna needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mizuna Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Fayette County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Mizuna Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Mizuna needs ~656 GDD — county provides 3,062 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline — Fayette County, IN

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 – May 9
Direct Sow April 11 Apr 11 – May 2
Harvest May 30 May 30 – Jun 27
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 – Aug 22

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Harvest
June Harvest
July
August Fall Sowing
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

30–45 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

175 days in Fayette County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Fayette County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after April 25 in Fayette County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 175.0-day season in Fayette County allows multiple plantings of Mizuna. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Mizuna in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring or fall. Harvest outer leaves as needed for a cut-and-come-again approach. Mizuna is one of the most cold-tolerant Asian greens.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mizuna in Fayette County, IN?

Fayette County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 25. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Fayette County, IN?

Fayette County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and first fall frost is October 17.

🌱

Your Fayette County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Fayette County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Fayette County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.